The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-07-25
GEN. PAINE,s FAST sLooP.
Trial Trip of the New Steel Sloop
Volunteer,

Trial Trip of the New Steel Sloop
Volunteer.
A Boston dispatch to the New York
Times says: The three happiest men in
New England tonight are Gen. Paine,
Edward Burgess, and Capt. Half, the
owner, designer and skipper of the new
steel sloop Volunteer After delays and
disappointmentS that at first it seemed i'm
possible to overcome, the latest Burgess
sloop made her trial trip to-day, and proved
herself a competitor that any yacht afioat
may well fear to meet. The only thing
lacking was the presence during the
trip of some of the more speedy
yachts of known capability. But
the cutter BedQuin and the iron yacht Pris-
ella were encountered and their speed com
pared with that of the new yacht. This test
certainly showed the great superiority of the
Volunteer Both Gen. Paine and Mr.. Bur
CESS expected to have everything in readi-
ness for a start by noon to-day The Volun-
teer was hauled out of Lawley's basin at
high water last night. Her mammoth cen
treboard was lowed alongside in readiness
to be placed in position, and at an early hour
this morning the crew, went to work on it.
Carpenters and shipwrights covered the
deck, putting the finishing touches here
and there, while a gang of mon worked
away on the gaff, the ironwork Of
which has been one source OF
bother for the past two or three days.
The Volunteers Centreboard is hung on
plan which. differs materially from that
usually employed, and slight detection of
the main bolt or the presence Of lead or
some other e&traneous substance for many
hours frustrated oil efforts to put it in place.
In fact, that was not accomplished until
after the Yacht started on her trial trip. The
singing of the gaff also was tedious job,
and wheu the Times tug steamed alongside,
shortly. before IL O'Clock, the yachts deck
presented a scene of confusion that indi-
Gated anything but a successful issue of the
davis work Capt. Half was hopeful, how
ever, and said that a start might be
made in an hour or two. 1t was made at
$3.50, when the Volunteers anchor was hove
short and 4 line run TO the tug Leader. The,
wind waa very light from the east in the
harbor. karlly sufficient to fill the sails Of
the coastesthat were drifting lazlywitb the
current dosn the stream. 1t was 3:36 when
the first pull was given to the hslyards OF
the huge mainSall. and as 1t was gradually
swaYed alOft the ILltes' tI- first saluted
the initial movemeptof theSyacht. Nearly
half an hour was occupied Ia, getting the
new piece Of canvas swayeG up in position
to make the most of the gentle breeze.
and it was. 4 O'Clock yyLen the. foresail and
iibywere broken out asd the Volunteer was
nrSeeedipg under her syg lower sails. The
Avaiue was cast off, biGH only for short
sfffme, as the light and puffy wind rendered
it absolutely impossible for her 10 get out Of
the harhQr without assistance. Again the
LeaNR t6ok her in tow, and not until Broad
Sound tas reached was Nhnd enough found
10 cai1ythe s'oop alongt - fair rate cf
Speed Just INSIDE the 1kA<es 4 fresh breeze
from southeast by cast was encountered and
the service of n tug was no longer necessary.
As the Volunteer claalel the CrtVcs the
breeze freshened and she tore along at rate
of speed that gave the putting tugs tern
enough to do to keep within hailing dis
lance, As the Volunteer bore away to the
northward, with sheets started point or
two. she was closely watched by many
anxious for her success Her towering
mast, taller than anYof the shipping in the
harbor, her immense bowsprit and gigantic
boom gave an imrNessiOn Of strength and
power. If one ware inclined to be captious
fault might be found with her somewhat
full sides, and thefe were not wanting q Use
who felt inclined to criticize
her graceful bow-a departuN,
from the straight lines of the earlieA
Burgess type. But if anything, this feature
is an improvement. The one point in her
model seriously open to criticism is her stern
This is almost shocking from a yachtman's
point of view. More than anything else 1t
resembles the now almost obsolete type of
the down East" pinkie, type Of marine
architecture almost absolutely unsuitable,
and q nondescript modification of the old
poop deck Of a Spanish galleOn. Designer
Burgess insists that this stern is not justified
by his model and no wonder lac hesitates to
hold himself responsible for it.
From whatever point It is examined it
would seem as il this nondescript stern of
the Volunteer must prove n serious impedi-
ment in anything but smooth water Heavy
seas rolling under her ought TO impair her
onward movement, as it must apparently
lift her stern and plunge her bow under
water. To say that this result was not APP
parent in to-day's trial is only fair, and, like
all theories, is liable 10 fracture in practice.
However, this stern mpairs the symmetry
and beauty Of the yacht If it does nothing
else.
When the Volunteer reached the open
water of Massachusetts, bay and felt the full
force of the southeast wind she made such
good racing with the steam tugs in her com
pany that all but the Times boat and one
other were soon LETT behind. - 49,
teer ran about nine miles from the Graves
In about fifty minutes. She stood up well
under her press of canvas, carrying all lower
sails and gaif topaails. These set admira-
bly, for new canvas Tho arch vi the main